The school did not confirm the hiring, saying, "Butch Davis is not the FIU football coach. That story is totally false."

Davis would replace Mario Cristobal, who was fired Dec. 5, after going 27-47 in six seasons, including 3-9 this season.

Davis was at North Carolina from 2007 until 2010, where he compiled a 28-23 overall record and 15-17 mark in the ACC and took the Tar Heels to three consecutive bowl games.

Davis was fired July 27, 2011, as NCAA allegations mounted that included some of the worst violations: academic fraud, a rogue assistant coach and impermissible benefits.

“I was honestly shocked to receive word that I will no longer be the head football coach at the University of North Carolina,” Davis said at the time. “I can honestly say I leave with full confidence that I have done nothing wrong.”

Davis has not been directly connected to any wrongdoing at UNC.

He has been working as a consultant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Davis also was head coach at the University of Miami from 1995-2000 and went 51-20 with a 33-9 record in the ACC. He went 24-34 for the Browns from 2001-04 and reached the playoffs once.